Comparative Study of the Themes of Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh in Old and Contemporary Iranian Miniatures

Sediqeh Pourmokhtar,Morteza Afshari

doi:10.7596/taksad.v7i5.1772

Abstract

One of the main sources of Persian painting is literary works. Epic literature, and especially the Shahnameh of Ferdowsi, has been noticed more than other literary types because it narrates the chivalry of the kings and national heroes of Iran as well as the Iranian people. In different periods, the Iranian artists benefit the themes of this valuable book; one of the main pillars of Iranian literature. But the encounter of artists to this work varied in different periods. This study examines this encounter. By conducting a case study, this research inspects old Iranian miniatures of Tahmasbi Shahnameh and their adaptation in terms of contents and literary themes with works of contemporary Iranian artists, namely Hossein Behzad, Majid Mehregan, Ardeshir Mojarad Takestani, Mohammad Baqer Aghamiri, and Mahmoud Farshchian. The research has been carried out through descriptive-analytical and comparative approach. The main purpose of this study is finding out how the old and contemporary Iranian painting encounter with the themes of Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh as the main basis of Iranian epic literature. Therefore, the present study seeks to answer this question; what are the differences and similarities between the old and contemporary miniatures regarding epic Iranian literature? And what are the causes of these differences and similarities? The findings of this research show that similarities and differences are a function of social and economic conditions and also changing the artist and audiences place.

Highlights

The literature and art are the main foundations of the culture of the nations, which can be very effective in understanding that culture
There has been a close interaction between Iranian literature and painting
Painters were deeply involved with literature, but in the second half of this century, they turned to new experiences beyond the scope of visualization of literary works, and gradually the importance of work, and group system of writing was reduced

Summary

Introduction

The literature and art are the main foundations of the culture of the nations, which can be very effective in understanding that culture. The history of painting in Iran shows that one of the main sources of inspiration in Iranian art is the rich Persian literature and there is a close relationship between them, so, much of the painting works are in a continuous exchange are formed with literature. New paintings are essentially a glance at the past; artists of this stream have tried in various ways to adapt their work to the present, but often used poems by poets such as Ferdowsi, Nizami, Saadi, and so on. It seems that in the contemporary period parallel to the developments in literature, the relationship between literature and painting has been different and has been diminished from earlier. It seeks to answer these questions that what are the aspects of the difference and similarity of this encounter (epic literature and painting) in ancient and contemporary Iran? What are the causes of these differences and similarities?

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Methods

Conclusion